Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Will the Duke of Coburg abdicate?

June 19, 1899

According to the Berlin correspondent of London's Daily Mail,  The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha is making plans to step down as sovereign later this year.

"In the course of a secret session of the Diet of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha yesterday, the Minister of State, Councilor C.F. von Strenge made a confidential communication that Duke Alfred of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, the reigning Duke, would probably abdicate this year."

Duke Alfred was born Prince Alfred Ernest Albert, Duke of Edinburgh, second son of Queen Victoria.  He is married to Grand Duchess Maria Alexandrovna of Russia, daughter of Alexander II.  He succeeded his paternal uncle, Ernst II, in August 1893.

The Duke's only son, Hereditary Prince Alfred, died earlier this year in February.   The heir apparent is the Duke's younger brother, Prince Arthur, Duke of Connaught, who is married to Princess Louise of Prussia.  They have two daughters, and one son, Prince Arthur.

The Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha was born in August 1844.

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